The System for Award Management (SAM) is the official government-wide database to register with to apply for and receive government grant funding. The website can be accessed at SAM.gov.
To register for a SAM.gov account, or to renew an account, users will need either a login.gov account or ID.ME account. These accounts are needed for individuals to access federal government agency websites. Most users have reported using login.gov is much more user friendly than an ID.ME account.
To set up a login.gov account only takes a few minutes. Just go to login.gov, select create an account, and follow the instructions.
New registrations typically take 7-10 business days to process. When registering for a new account be sure to select “Financial Assistance Only”. Do not select “All Awards”, this option is not applicable to municipal governments.
During the registration process the SAM.gov system will ask you to select a NAICS code. This number is used to classify a business / entity by industry. It is strongly recommended local governments select “921120 Legislative Bodies” for the NAICS code.
The following are needed to register your city:
- Federal Tax Identification Number
- Legal Name of Your City
- Physical Address (PO Boxes are not accepted for an entity’s physical address)
- Other information may be requested from the city during the registration process
Once your city is registered, it must be validated. This step is to confirm the correct legal business name and physical address of the city; additional documentation may be required.
The SAM.gov registration needs to be renewed each year. Unlike the initial registration process, it typically takes around 15 minutes to complete a renewal. Updates to information in the city’s record should be completed during the renewal process. Lastly, when renewing the account chose “Financial Assistance Awards”. Do not select “All Awards”, this option is not applicable to municipal governments.
SAM registration and renewal of registration is free. There are many entities and websites that offer to process registration and renewal for a steep fee, and many of these offers have been discovered to be scams. Proceed with caution should you use an outside source to assist with SAM registration and renewal.
Each city must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, a unique 12-digit number that is how your city identifies itself to the federal government. All federal grant seekers and grant recipients must have a UEI number. The UEI number is automatically generated and issued by the SAM system during the initial registration after the validation process.
For technical assistance with SAM, visit https://sam.gov/content/help, or call the Federal Service Desk at 866-606-8220.
